Rothwell Distillery acknowledges the Wadawurrung peoples, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are, and pay our respects to the Elders past and present. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who visit us.

Rothwell Distillery acknowledges the knowledge of native botanicals by Indigenous people. We acknowledge that it is only with Indigenous knowledge are we able to grow these plants ourselves and distil our unique spirits. We encourage people to learn more about bush foods, purchase them from organisations that partner with Aboriginal communities, and try growing native plants themselves.

We also acknowledge that many species of bush foods were decimated due to the arrival of European settlers. We exist on a property that was once a sheep-station, and undoubtedly the fields surrounding us were once bountiful of yam daisy, saltbush, bush mint, and many other bush foods that Aboriginal ancestors relied upon. A part of our mission here at Rothwell Distillery is to reintroduce native species to the land in the hope that we can celebrate indigenous knowledge and heritage in Wadawurrung country. We also grow bush foods we use as botanicals that are native to other parts of this country, and we acknowledge and celebrate the heritage and knowledge of Aboriginal ancestors all across Australia.

We encourage visitors to also visit Wurdi Youang (pictured right) while in the area. This site is home to an Aboriginal sight where stones are aligned with the setting sun on the equinox and solstice. It is estimated to be 11,000 years old, pre-dating the Pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge, making it the oldest astronomical observatory in the world.